[Ventilatory capacity and respiratory symptoms in brickyard workers]

We studied 233 male brickyard workers and 149 matched non-exposed control workers. The mean age of the brickyard workers was 35 years with the mean duration of employment in this industry of 16 years. Significantly higher prevalence of chronic cough (31.8%), chronic phlegm (26.2%) and chest tightness (24.0%) was found in the exposed workers than in controls (20.1%; 18.1%; 0%) (P < 0.05). A high prevalence of acute symptoms during work shift, particularly dry throat and eye and throat irritation, were found in the brickyard workers. The measured FVC and FEV1 values were significantly lower than predicted values. On the other hand, the measured FEF50 and FEF25 were not significantly lower than predicted. This was found in the exposed smokers and nonsmokers. Dust concentrations were considerably higher than recommended for dust which contains up to 70% of SiO2. Our data suggest that the brickyard workers display a high potential to develop acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and mostly restrictive changes of lung function.